Gladiators fight back to take the win

PLYMOUTH ATKINS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT GLADIATORS 51

BERWICK FTS BANDITS 39

The score line may suggest a relatively comfortable Gladiators’ victory but in reality, the story was very different as once again, the home side were forced to recover an early points deficit.

After last week’s nail biting draw against Kent, Plymouth made a slow start to the meeting. On a track that had been baked by hot weather all day, gating proved to be all important early on and it was the visitors who were making the starts, providing six race winners in the first seven heats and opening up a four point lead, a gap they maintained until Heat 11.

It was not the start that new Gladiators’ team manager, Garry May had wanted but his interval team talk inspired the home side and in a remarkable finish to the match, the Gladiators secured 5-1 heat advantages in each of the last four races to pull away from a spirited Bandits side.

May said afterwards that he took the boys aside and gave them a pep talk. ‘We needed to get off the line better and the boys reacted fantastically. We need to work with a couple of the lads on their starts but in the end, it was a fantastic result and I’m delighted. Alfie in particular, was superb tonight’.

Plymouth’s choice of guest riders again came up with the goods with Richard Lawson filling the number one slot for the injured Jason Crump scoring 12 plus 1 bonus from his five rides and Jason Edwards, replacing Henry Atkins, getting 5 + 1 from his three outings including a race win in Heat Two.

The real star of the show however, was popular reserve, Alfie Bowtell who had a busy evening, racking up 13 + 2 from seven rides, including three race wins.

The Essex born rider was understandably delighted with his evening’s work. ‘This was my best performance for Plymouth and in the Championship. I’m very happy to be back at Plymouth this season and the journey home won’t seem quite so long tonight’ he said.

Credit must be given to Berwick who played their part in another thrilling evening at the Coliseum.

There is no meeting at the Coliseum next week as the Gladiators travel to Kent on Tuesday. The following week (Tuesday 22 nd June) sees the visit of Birmingham and the much anticipated appearance of Cornish favourite, Chris Harris. On-line tickets for this meeting are available here.

Plymouth Atkins Financial Management Gladiators: 51

Richard Lawson (guest) 2,2,3,2*,3 = 12+1

Zack Cook 1*,0,3,0 = 4+1

Steven Goret 0,2,R = 2

Dillon Ruml 1 1*,2* = 4+2

Bjarne Pedersen 2,2,2,3,2* = 11+1

Alfie Bowtell 2*,1*,1,3,0,3,3 = 13+2

Jason Edwards (guest) 3,0,2* = 5+1

Berwick FTS Bandits: 39

Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 3,Fx,3,1,1 = 8

Coty Garcia– Rider replacement

Jye Etheridge 3,3,2,1 = 9

Dany Gappmaier 2*,0,2,1 = 5+2

Aaron Summers 3,3,2,0,0 = 8

Kyle Bickley  0,1,1,1,1,0 = 4

Leon Flint  0,1,3,0,0 = 4

Image credit: Blumonkey media.